Security services were today urged to probe a series of "sinister" thefts of high-powered computer components from Durham University.

Security services were today urged to probe a series of "sinister" thefts of high-powered computer components from Durham University.

The Institution for Computational Cosmology at the university has been targeted by "a very professional operation", said its director, Dr Carlos Frenk.

"The last time they were in the computing room for all of 38 seconds, they stole an awesome amount of computing power," he said.

"To use that computing power requires considerable infrastructure and engineering support.

"So the two questions one needs to ask are: Who needs such computing power and who can use it?

"Computing on this scale takes place in research universities, weather centres, banks, government labs, weapons research, espionage - these are the sorts of organisations that require that this amount of computing power.

"Whoever has stolen these boards has the ability to manufacture a high-technology frame into which to insert these boards.

"So the inference must be that these components are being stolen to order for export."

Dr Frenk said he was unsure of the final destination but the security services should investigate.

"I think there is a good probability that there is something sinister behind this," he said.

"I think there is no evidence to point to any particular country or organisation.

"One would hope that Government departments interested in terrorism, for example, may also take an interest."